Last offseason, the 49ers added Mac Jones on a two-year contract. That proved to be a worthwhile investment given the previous first-rounder’s level of play when filling in for an injured Brock Purdy.
Jones looms as a possible trade goal given the dearth of other veteran passers in position to achieve the market. Nevertheless, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan recently made clear the team’s intention of keeping Jones in place for 2026. Cost-controlled passers are nevertheless a highly useful commodity, and trade calls could be expected.
“Multiple” teams plan to a minimum of reach out to the 49ers a few Jones trade, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports (video link). That may come as no surprise. The previous Patriots first-rounder won five of his eight starts in 2025, setting recent profession highs in completion percentage (69.6%) and yards per attempt (7.4) along the best way. Much of that has been attributed to Shanahan’s scheme, but a trade geared toward giving Jones one other opportunity to operate as a full-time starter would naturally be compelling for any variety of teams.
A high asking price can be required for San Francisco’s stance to budge. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, it stays the team’s plan to maintain each Purdy and Jones for 2026. The 49ers made an enormous investment in Purdy last offseason, inking him to a pact averaging $53MM per season. An inexpensive QB2 will in fact be key throughout the lifetime of that extension. Jones, 27, is due $3.25MM for 2026 as things stands; that features a base salary ($1.4MM) which can be highly attractive to quarterback-needy teams.
Per Pelissero, Jones and his camp could push for a “contractual adjustment” within the event a robust trade market develops however the 49ers elect to maintain him. A minimum of a moderate raise might be in store based on the Alabama product’s level of play in 2025. San Francisco has a history of agreeing to top-ups for several players with Shanahan and general manager John Lynch in place. It would be interesting to see if the list on that front grows relatively soon.
Especially if Daniel Jones stays in Indianapolis, the free agent market won’t offer much in the best way of starting-caliber passers. The 2026 draft, meanwhile, only includes one quarterback (Fernando Mendoza) seen as a first-round lock. That would drive up the asking price for trade chips like Jones, but it surely stays to be seen if the 49ers might be convinced to noticeably entertain any offers.